DJOKOVIC ADVANCES AS NADAL RIVALS TRY TO KNOCK EACH OTHER OUT

LONDON—Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz closed in on a Wimbledon generational clash on Friday, even as Rafael Nadal’s path to the trophy will be rid of one more obstacle.

Three-time defending champion Djokovic demolished Serbian compatriot Miomir Kecmanovic 6-0, 6-3, 6-4 in the third round to stay on course to equal Pete Sampras as a seven-time champion, one behind Roger Federer’s men’s record.

Friday’s win was the 330th of Djokovic’s Grand Slam career.

“So far, so good,” said the 35-year-old top seed. “I expect high standards from myself. You always want to raise the level and things are shaping up well.”

Stefanos Tsitsipas takes on Nick Kyrgios in a blockbuster clash on Saturday, with the winner likely to be the main obstacle in Rafael Nadal’s path to the final.

Fourth seed Tsitsipas is the only other top-10 player left in Nadal’s side of the draw, while fiery Australian Kyrgios is a match for anybody on his day. Several potential top rivals for the Spanish ace, who is chasing a calendar Grand Slam, have been knocked out by either defeats or withdrawals.

A win for Kyrgios on Saturday will give him a season-leading 10th victory on grass this summer.

Djokovic has now won 22 successive matches on grass and is in the last 16 at Wimbledon for the 14th time.

He has not lost a grasscourt match since falling to Marin Cilic in the final at Queen’s four years ago.

In the last 16, Djokovic will face Dutch wild card Tim van Rijthoven, the world No. 104 who defeated 22nd seed Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.

“Before the tournament started, it was a dream for me to play Djokovic,” said Van Rijthoven.

After needing four sets to get past Kwon Soon-woo in the first round, Djokovic has dropped just 14 games since.

If he beats Van Rijthoven, he could meet Alcaraz in the quarterfinals.

The 19-year-old Spaniard swept past Germany’s Oscar Otte, 6-3, 6-1, 6-2, to make the fourth round for the first time.

Alcaraz, who hit 37 winners in total, goes on to face Italian 10th seed Jannik Sinner, who put out John Isner in straight sets.

The only consolation for Isner was passing Ivo Karlovic as the sport’s greatest hitter of aces, taking his career total to 13,748.